Studio Wildcard has introduced a completely unexpected tool for all builders with the latest update (v88.3): the planning mode. When you have a building piece equipped and hold down the corresponding key – R on PC, X on Xbox, or Square on PlayStation –, you switch directly into a placement preview. In this state, you place free hologram structures in the landscape that do not consume any resources. This allows you and your tribe to fully plan out gigantic bases or complex defensive structures in advance without having even a single piece of wood or metal in your inventory.
Studio Wildcard is expanding ARK: Survival Ascended with the paid "Fantastic Tames Season 1" DLC pack, adding a range of extraordinary creatures. These are based on the mystical anomalies of the ARKs and bring entirely new gameplay mechanics to the game that differ significantly from the classic prehistoric animals. The pack includes a total of three unique creatures that will be gradually implemented over the course of 2026: the already available Burrowbuck, as well as the announced Cerberax and Enigmasaur.
The map Astraeos, developed by modder Nektatus, received its largest update to date (Client Version 83.x) on February 25, 2026.
As an official non-canonical DLC for ARK Survival Ascended, Astraeos has already established itself with its setting inspired by Greek mythology. The upcoming update drastically expands the playable area.
Lost Colony is a canonical expansion pack for ARK: Survival Ascended that bridges Extinction to Genesis and ultimately to ARK 2. The focus is once again on Mei Yin, voiced by Michelle Yeoh, whose story is told through cinematic anime sequences from the renowned studio MAPPA (including Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man).
With Valguero Ascended, ARK: Survival Ascended will receive another map on September 30, 2025, which is already known from the ASE version. The release was originally scheduled for the end of August but has been postponed by about a month.
